HANUMAN AND VIBHEESHAN
Once VIBHEESHAN approached HANUMAN & said, "How fortunate you're! Every day you do SRI RAMA smaran & you have fully earned HIS grace. I've also been doing SRI RAMA smaran for a long time but I've not been blessed with the opportunity of having his DARSHAN constantly like you have got."
Hanuman explained, "No doubt that you're doing smaran of LORD RAMA.But did you ever participate in SERVICE? How can you earn SRI RAMA's grace without doing that? It is now a full 10 months since DEVI SITA has been in LANKA but did you ever console her & try to alleviate her sufferings? Did you meet her even once? Did you ever think of some way to relieve her agony? If you had done any of this, it would have amounted to SERVICE to the LORD." !!
REFLECTION
It's not enough if we remember god; it's not enough to go to places of worship; it's not enough to keep fast; it's not enough if we chant hymns & bhajans; it's not enough if we do pooja & other rituals; When we serve others, we're not doing it for them; we're doing it for the god in us who's equally present in others. Only the blind will be indifferent to the dismal condition of others; only the deaf will be unaffected by the sobs of others.
Our heart must melt in compassion when the eye sees another person suffering. That is the sign of Spirituality! !!
Hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray!!! The more you give, the more you would get!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Three things
Three things in life that, once gone, never come back
1. Time2. Words3. Opportunity
Three things in life that can destroy a person
1. Anger2. Pride3. Unforgiven
Three things in life that you should never lose
1. Hope2. Peace3. Honesty
Three things in life those are most valuable
1. Love2. Family3. Kindness
Three things in life those are never certain
1. Fortune2. Success3. Dreams
Three things that make a person
1. Commitment2. Sincerity3. Hard work
Three things those are truly constant -
Father - Mother - God
source : mihira family
1. Time2. Words3. Opportunity
Three things in life that can destroy a person
1. Anger2. Pride3. Unforgiven
Three things in life that you should never lose
1. Hope2. Peace3. Honesty
Three things in life those are most valuable
1. Love2. Family3. Kindness
Three things in life those are never certain
1. Fortune2. Success3. Dreams
Three things that make a person
1. Commitment2. Sincerity3. Hard work
Three things those are truly constant -
Father - Mother - God
source : mihira family
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thought for the day
"Chanting Krsna's sweet name purifies the heart; sanctifies andsteadies the mind; destroys the six enemies [lust, anger, greed, envy,illusion, madness]; stops birth and death; dissolves sins; scorchessamskaras; annihilates attachment; induces detachment; uprootsdesires; empowers one; makes one fearless; removes illusion; bestowssupreme peace; delivers prema; reveals the Lord and His dhama; showsone's svarupa; showers bhakti-rasa; and engages one in his nitya sevafor the pleasure of Radha-Syama. "(Mahanidhi Swami - Art of Chanting Hare Krsna, p13)
[Vedic Wisdom] Tale to Understand - God is the power behind anything in this world!
STEAMING HOT PEAS BRIYANI :-
Mouth-watering! Delicious! Mother usually made Peas Biryani on Wednesday afternoons in winter. It was her favourite dish to prepare, for it was easy to make, yet a hot favourite amongst the kids. Moreover fresh peas were in season and tasted heavenly!
She heated some oil in a pan and added a spoonful of cumin seeds. Then she added a handful of chopped onions. She proceeded to add some green peas and seasoned them with salt and turmeric powder. Having sautéed them for a couple of minutes she turned in the cleaned and washed rice and poured in a good amount of water. She covered the pan with a lid and let it cook on a slow flame.
Strangely, the ingredients in the simmering pot started a conversation. The rice was the first to say, 'I am the most important of all of us present here for I am pure white and wholesome. I am the key ingredient to making Peas Biryani. I am SATYA, this is the Truth.'
The yellow turmeric powder chuckled and said, 'No longer are you white my dear, for I have dyed you in my own colour. I am DHARMA. This is my duty.'
The peas smiled peacefully and said, 'What is Peas Biryani, without peas, eh? We are the most attractive and delicious part of this preparation. We are Shanti. We are PEACE. We are peas (peace) and our colour too is green that is the colour of peace!'
The salt mused to itself and said, 'Who would ever be able to eat Peas Biryani, without salt? I am the most important of all. If I were not there Peas Biryani would be unpalatable. My taste shall be infused in each particle. I am PREMA. I love each one of you equally.'
The onions said, 'We add the tang to this dish. We add flavour. We are the soul of all vegetarian food. We are AHIMSA. We tolerate all other flavours, yet retain our own!'
The pan spoke up and said, 'It's I who is holding all of you in here.But for me, you would all have been separate identities. I have held you together, so that jointly,you can become a delicious dish. Where would you be without me? I am DISCIPLINE and I am indispensable. '
The cumin seeds were dancing up and down in the boiling water and said,'Try making Biryani, without us! It shall be quite tasteless. We sizzle in the hot oil first of all for we are devoted to spreading our flavour, wherever we go. We are DEVOTION.'
The Biryani was almost ready and the oil glistened on every grain ofrice. It said, 'I ensure that each grain of rice, each pea and each cumin seed, retains its individual identity. I prevent stickiness. I am DISCRIMINATION! '
The water was almost completely absorbed by now. It smiled contentedly and said, 'I was determined to permeate into each particle of all of you.Without me could peas Biryani ever have been made? I am DETERMINATION and I am the most important of all !'
Mother came by and checked to see, if the Biryani was done. The gas flame smiled quietly to itself and said, 'Each one is so full of its own importance. Without the power of heat provided by me, what would they be? It is the power of God vested in me that I can give the energy to cook.
Alas, who remembers the POWER OF GOD?' God smiled to Himself as the lady turned off the gas and waited, till He was needed again.
REFLECTION
Each one of us in this world is so full of his or her importance. We conveniently forget God who gives us the power to do everything.
Whether acknowledged or not, whether remembered or not, God is the power behind doing and making everything, even that Peas Biryani!
Hari Om!
Mouth-watering! Delicious! Mother usually made Peas Biryani on Wednesday afternoons in winter. It was her favourite dish to prepare, for it was easy to make, yet a hot favourite amongst the kids. Moreover fresh peas were in season and tasted heavenly!
She heated some oil in a pan and added a spoonful of cumin seeds. Then she added a handful of chopped onions. She proceeded to add some green peas and seasoned them with salt and turmeric powder. Having sautéed them for a couple of minutes she turned in the cleaned and washed rice and poured in a good amount of water. She covered the pan with a lid and let it cook on a slow flame.
Strangely, the ingredients in the simmering pot started a conversation. The rice was the first to say, 'I am the most important of all of us present here for I am pure white and wholesome. I am the key ingredient to making Peas Biryani. I am SATYA, this is the Truth.'
The yellow turmeric powder chuckled and said, 'No longer are you white my dear, for I have dyed you in my own colour. I am DHARMA. This is my duty.'
The peas smiled peacefully and said, 'What is Peas Biryani, without peas, eh? We are the most attractive and delicious part of this preparation. We are Shanti. We are PEACE. We are peas (peace) and our colour too is green that is the colour of peace!'
The salt mused to itself and said, 'Who would ever be able to eat Peas Biryani, without salt? I am the most important of all. If I were not there Peas Biryani would be unpalatable. My taste shall be infused in each particle. I am PREMA. I love each one of you equally.'
The onions said, 'We add the tang to this dish. We add flavour. We are the soul of all vegetarian food. We are AHIMSA. We tolerate all other flavours, yet retain our own!'
The pan spoke up and said, 'It's I who is holding all of you in here.But for me, you would all have been separate identities. I have held you together, so that jointly,you can become a delicious dish. Where would you be without me? I am DISCIPLINE and I am indispensable. '
The cumin seeds were dancing up and down in the boiling water and said,'Try making Biryani, without us! It shall be quite tasteless. We sizzle in the hot oil first of all for we are devoted to spreading our flavour, wherever we go. We are DEVOTION.'
The Biryani was almost ready and the oil glistened on every grain ofrice. It said, 'I ensure that each grain of rice, each pea and each cumin seed, retains its individual identity. I prevent stickiness. I am DISCRIMINATION! '
The water was almost completely absorbed by now. It smiled contentedly and said, 'I was determined to permeate into each particle of all of you.Without me could peas Biryani ever have been made? I am DETERMINATION and I am the most important of all !'
Mother came by and checked to see, if the Biryani was done. The gas flame smiled quietly to itself and said, 'Each one is so full of its own importance. Without the power of heat provided by me, what would they be? It is the power of God vested in me that I can give the energy to cook.
Alas, who remembers the POWER OF GOD?' God smiled to Himself as the lady turned off the gas and waited, till He was needed again.
REFLECTION
Each one of us in this world is so full of his or her importance. We conveniently forget God who gives us the power to do everything.
Whether acknowledged or not, whether remembered or not, God is the power behind doing and making everything, even that Peas Biryani!
Hari Om!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thought for the day
Life's desires should never be directed towards sense gratification.One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since ahuman being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothingelse should be the goal of one's works."
(Sri Suta Gosvami – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.10)
(Sri Suta Gosvami – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.10)
Thought for the day
Krsna will be merciful to us and we shall be blessed with the gift ofdevotion to His divine feet the very day that we are delivered fromthe evil desire of seeking advantages and honors from others."
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)
(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura)
Tale to Understand - A polished soul is like a mirror which reflects the Divinity within us!
THE PAINTING ON THE WALL
There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall not be disappointed. "
Now,the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end of the palace. So he said, "Alright you may work on one of the walls in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would you like to make?" The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, shall do so,without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so that either
of us can not see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the king loved surprise and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc. The second one would some with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up.
Lo and behold! The same painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true! Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the
first wall. But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The lad said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every day!"
It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room, showed up in it!
REFLECTION
That is what it means to polish our self. For when we polish our hearts and souls we see God's reflection within. The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.
It is said that the world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to be that too.
If you are happy, the world will look to be happy. If you are sad; jealous; dejected; angry; restless ... that is what the world will seem to be to you!
There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.
One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall not be disappointed. "
Now,the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end of the palace. So he said, "Alright you may work on one of the walls in the new hall." So the artist was given the job and he was very pleased indeed.
Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I too am an artist." The king said, "What would you like to make?" The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, shall do so,without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so that either
of us can not see the other."
Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the king loved surprise and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc. The second one would some with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was complete and he would like to show it to the king. The king sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening." The man said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!"
The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up.
Lo and behold! The same painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too! Amazing! But true! Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the
first wall. But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side of the curtain. So how had he done it?
The king wanted to know the secret. He gave a double reward to the fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"
The lad said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every day!"
It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room, showed up in it!
REFLECTION
That is what it means to polish our self. For when we polish our hearts and souls we see God's reflection within. The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.
It is said that the world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to be that too.
If you are happy, the world will look to be happy. If you are sad; jealous; dejected; angry; restless ... that is what the world will seem to be to you!
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